American spirit -- Merry Christmas

Politics have been foisted on an American people who would much rather work, build, innovate, party and simply enjoy the fruits of their labor in comfort with friends and family. For many years most people pretty much ignored Washington D.C. and had little patience with politics. But as the government encroached more and more and then when, starting under Bush, people heard about bailouts and stimulus and healthcare takover and cap and trade and trillions being spent, they were forced to pay attention to politics.

When they did begin to pay attention and actually became active in opposition, they were attacked by the media and by politicians. This took people by surprise -- they had no idea things had gotten this bad, that the political class was this intent on power and control -- or that the political class had such a low opinion of the American people. 

Well, now people are involved in politics and what they've determined is that they really, really don't like politics. What they learned is that government is ruining the economy and is mainly responsible for the high unemployment. People want economic growth and good jobs -- they now realize that all this government spending is keeping the economy from growing. The American spirit is suppressed at the moment, and there is a frustrated energy ready to get back to progress and economic prosperity.

The American people don't like the fact that they, their friends, family and neighbors are out of work and going through hard times and that the government is ignoring the opposition and continuing to spend.

It's not complicated, and it's not nefarious -- it's opposition to interference and spending. As long as government was taking tax money to increase welfare programs, most people paid little attention. The country is, for the most part, compassionate and willing to help the unfortunate. When anyone did pay attention to government welfare programs, they were disgusted with the bureacracy and mismanagement, but there hasn't been any ongoing resistance to welfare. From time to time I hear from people who have had to access unemployment or food stamps or emergency assistance, and they are appalled by the system, but there hasn't been any grassroot movement to end welfare and oppose the giant State machine -- most people secretly fear they might have to access emergency assistance -- I hear over and over that it's good to have a safety net. I personally think there is a better way to provide assistance in the private realm, but most people don't share this idea.

What's happening now goes way beyond a safety net -- we're talking about a State effort to take over healthcare and to control behavior related to energy use in ways that raise prices and taxes and curb freedoms to a degree which is unacceptable to most American citizens. The opposition to this heavy intervention by the government is widespread, and the closer people look at the State the less they like -- the cronyism, the arrogance, the lies and manipulation, the lack of concern for small businesses and economic growth -- this is what has most people upset.

Then people hear the speeches of those connected with the adminsitration, and the Democrat congress, and much of it sounds like socialism. The anti-freemarket rhetoric is too heated -- the call for redistribution is too loud -- there is no opposite call for the application of capitalist principles, no understanding of capitalist principles. Reagan inspired people to action -- the current administration seems to be selling people on dependence.

People are rebelling against the idea of State dependence, because they intuitively know that the answers lie in hard-work, self-reliance, low taxes and freedom from over-bearing government interference. The idea of dependence, of the State completely controlling the economy, goes against the spirit of America.

Critics of the Tea Party suggest they are naive and that the State provides many services for which they should be grateful. The problem is that the State is going way beyond the typical services they provide. Like I said, there has been little opposition to the State until they crossed a line. Most people don't access the real expensive services offered by the State, and their taxes more than pay for what they do use. The number of people who are not dependent on the State for their livlihood far outnumber those who are, and these people can be a powerful force when they are united behind a common cause.

The common cause is to stop State encroachment and to change the make-up of our government. In the final analysis, it won't matter what the critics of the Tea Party say or do, if the movement grows in size and voting power, it will have its way. 

Comments

[fred]

what really bugs me is that i now HAVE TO pay attention ,,, the corruption and fraud is so blatant and large and the corrupt media ,,, the "fourth estate" is so bought out ,,, that you have to pay attention and be loud ,,,

and i am one of those that who would "much rather work, build, innovate, enjoy family, party and simply enjoy the fruits of my labor in comfort with friends and family" and ignore Washington.

but that is no longer an option ,,,

from "Atlas ..." Watch money.

Money is the barometer of a society’s virtue. When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion—when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing—when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors—when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you—when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice —you may know that your society is doomed. "

[Mike Farmer]

Thanks Fred -- that quote is dead on.

[Rob]

At least the Feds gave us a Christmas present his year!

http://robvstate.com/2009/12/24/happy-holidays/

[mike farmer]

Thanks